The Waltz Towards Ruin

BOOM!

The tennis ball flew out diagonally from Akutsu's side once more.

"Game, Atobe Keigo. Score is one to zero."

After Atobe easily held his serve, the right to serve fell into Akutsu's hands.

"Haa... haa..."

Grasping the tennis ball tightly, Akutsu felt all the muscles in his body grow excited.

This was the feeling, this was the feeling that even though the opponent was stronger, he could still see him, still catch up.

It wasn't like watching from the platform back then, nor was it like the pressure he felt from Saeki Muneyoshi and Tezuka Kunimitsu.

Although Atobe appeared stronger than him, he wasn't truly that difficult to defeat.

Especially now, standing on the court, he could feel the immense mental pressure emanating from Atobe.

He felt a long-lost opportunity to improve his strength again.

"This is the feeling!"

With a slight tremor in his heart, the aura around Akutsu began to stir, and wisps of grayish-white energy started to spread.

When he reached a limit, he suddenly clenched his fist, and an imposing, ferocious aura erupted from within his body.

The tennis ball was suppressed, yet he could still see the figure ahead. These things genuinely made Akutsu feel excited.

However, Atobe's sudden arrogant remark seemed to remind Akutsu of some unpleasant past, and the monster was now enraged.

The grayish-white energy enveloped him, amplifying his already ferocious expression, making it appear even more menacing.

For someone like Muneyoshi, whose mental power was outstanding, even from off the court, they could vaguely see silver-gray threads of flame appearing around Akutsu.

This was the manifestation of his mental power becoming tangible.

"Oh? You don't need to get so angry just because you lost one game, Akutsu. You're truly un-flashy!"

Atobe, whose mental power was incredibly sharp, naturally saw the change in Akutsu opposite him. The smile on his lips grew wider.

Although Akutsu's expression was terrifying, it wasn't enough to make Atobe afraid.

Besides, this was a match, and when it came to tennis, he wasn't afraid of anything.

Tap... tap... tap...

After pressing the tennis ball a few times, Akutsu raised his sharp gaze and tossed the ball upward.

BOOM!

A diagonal serve with a wide arm swing.

"That's quite a good serve."

Feeling the invisible pressure pressing down on him, Atobe's tone held a hint of surprise, but his footwork didn't stop as he moved to intercept the ball under such pressure.

BOOM!

Chh chh chh...

The moment the racket hit the ball, immense force vibrated through the net, but this didn't pose a problem for Atobe.

Akutsu, however, was not to be outdone.

BOOM!

Atobe hit the ball back again.

Akutsu charged forward like a leopard, his hem fluttering in the wind.

ROAR!

Even while engaged in a constant rally, Akutsu, despite being off-balance, managed to hit a powerful smash that felt like a direct kill.

Atobe took a few steps to reach the net to receive the ball. The moment his racket connected, a massive vibration traveled from the racket face to his hand.

"Hm?"

Atobe's tiger's mouth went numb, but he still managed to hit the ball back with his powerful technique and fundamentals.

Following that, Akutsu, who had completely abandoned defense and was going all out, made Atobe understand completely.

Sometimes, matches played by those who relied solely on physical prowess without relying on technique looked like this.

Moreover, Akutsu, who had undergone systematic training with Tezuka and Fuji, wasn't lacking in technique either.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

"Pretty good, Akutsu!"

He hit the ball back again, seemingly in his element. Atobe turned and praised his opponent across the court, "Your shots aren't flashy, but I accept your conviction!"

Atobe's tone gradually turned cold, then returned to his arrogant demeanor. "However, this match is about to end!"

"You're making me laugh my teeth out!"

Akutsu roared, his feet a blur. He lunged forward like a leopard, desperately chasing down the ball.

"I'll smash you!"

"If this were me a few weeks ago, I probably would have been in for a tough fight against you, but... this feeling of standing on a national-level stage is truly intoxicating!"

A fleeting look of nostalgia and emotion flashed in his eyes before hardening into resolve. Atobe's grip on his racket was as steady as a mountain, unfazed by the formidable force of Akutsu's shot.

Swish.

Using the power generated from his body's rotation and turn, he unleashed a backhand slice, sending the tennis ball towards a spot that, in Atobe's eyes, was Akutsu's blind spot.

However, the expected point didn't come immediately...

"Hah!"

With a clear, light shout, Akutsu twisted his body nimbly, forcibly turning his ankle.

He managed to neutralize the shot aimed at what should have been his blind spot with a bizarre posture.

Then, he abruptly raised his arm, delivering another powerful smash. Simultaneously, his body surged towards the net once more at high speed.

"Truly a formidable physique. Against a body like that, ordinary blind spots seem to be useless."

"It's time to use some real power!"

Tendrils of cold air began to spread from Atobe's side of the court towards Akutsu. Even with the boost of his aura, Akutsu felt a chilling cold.

"It's over, Akutsu. Freeze!"

Ice shards appeared, flying from Atobe's half of the court into Akutsu's, piercing the ground in various positions.

Bang!

The tennis ball struck precisely on an ice pillar in Atobe's sight, leaving Akutsu unable to move.

"Game, Atobe Keigo, 4-3."

"Game, Atobe Keigo, 5-3."

Pow!

"Ace, 15-0."

It was Atobe's serve. The effect of the "Ice World" was still active, and the tennis ball hit an ice pillar directly for an ace.

Pow!

"Ace, 30-0."

"Against their own blind spots, anyone is helpless. No matter how great their physical talent, it's useless. Take this next shot, Akutsu." Atobe prepared to serve the third ball.

At this moment, Atobe suddenly noticed that two of the ice pillars on Akutsu's side of the court were missing.

The ice pillars that had been shattered when he attacked those previously weak points had not regenerated.

In other words, that spot was no longer Akutsu's blind spot.

"Could this guy also...?"

Atobe was startled. Having witnessed Saeki Muneyoshi's precedent, he instantly understood Akutsu's true objective.

To confirm his suspicion, Atobe hit the ball towards the previous position.

Just as Atobe predicted, Akutsu adjusted his footwork slightly, moved his body, and arrived at the receiving position. He immediately returned the ball and scored.

"30-15."

This blind spot had indeed been covered and corrected by Akutsu.

"You guy too, just like him... Is my ultimate technique just helping you find your weaknesses? What a joke." Atobe's expression changed, and he spoke indignantly.

"In that case, I'll crush you!"

Pow!

It was the same trajectory, the same position. Atobe hit the ball again.

Akutsu returned it in the same manner.

Stomp, stomp!

Taking two steps in three, Atobe lightly stepped forward, tilted his racket downwards, and flicked the bouncing tennis ball upwards.

Boom!

With a crisp sound, the tennis ball soared high over Akutsu's head, flying towards his backcourt.

Screech...

With a sudden stop, Akutsu spun his body rapidly, lunging towards the tennis ball that was about to land behind him.

Swish.

With a dive, Akutsu's arm stretched to its limit.

Bang!

The racket, bearing a "W" logo, struck the tennis ball just as it was about to bounce a second time.

However, the next moment.

"Hahaha... Akutsu Jin, witness my magnificent tennis skills, my lord!"

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

As if a camera cut, only those sharp eyes remained in Akutsu's mind.

"Be shattered by my lord, the... Waltz of Destruction!"

With a light laugh, a figure leaped into the air.

Bang!

A wave of air slammed down from mid-air. Atobe forcefully smashed the tennis ball down, sending it straight towards Akutsu's racket.

Thwack!

The tennis ball directly knocked Akutsu's racket from his hands and bounced back. Atobe on the other side leaped again, even higher than before. At the peak of his jump, he powerfully smashed the ball down.

Pow!

A faint yellow afterimage flashed past Akutsu's vision.

"Game. Hyotei Academy's Atobe Keigo wins this game, with a score of 6 to 3."

"The Metropolitan Tournament's final champion this year is Hyotei Academy."

ps: "Thank you to the great Ying Kun for your monthly ticket support and donations!"